Power brushes for washing automobiles and the like



Aug. 21, 1956 w. o. wlLLlAMs Filed April 5, 1954 POWER BRUSHES FORWASHING AUTOMOBILES AND THE LIKE r.. In

nited States Patent POWER BRUSHES FOR WASHING AUTOMOBILES AND THE LIKEWalter O. Williams, Detroit, Mich.

Application April 5, 1954, Serial No. 420,957

Claims. (Cl. 15--29) This invention relates to improvements in powerbrushes in the prior art but none has been completely successful inwashing `automobiles and the like in that they do not have suicientpower to provide adequate scrubbing :action, they stall easily, theyprovide too much water at the rotating scrubbing element to permit it toscrub eifectively, `and are so constructed that the item being washedcan be damaged by the application of excess brush pressure.

With the foregoing in view, it is the primary object of the invention toprovide a power brush for washing automobiles and the like whichovercomes the foregoing defects and which is completely eifective in itscleansing operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a power brush including yafixed brush element and a rotary brush element, the latter being turbinedriven by an inexpensive high eiciency turbine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a power brush including afixed brush element and a rotary brush element which scrubs with more orless pressure applied to the item being Washed by the rotary elementthereof responsive to manipulation of the brush against the item beingwashed, the said power brush including means for limiting the manualpressure that may be applied by the rotary brush element to the itembeing washed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a power brush having anouter fixed brush element and a turbine driven rotary brush element witha resilient annular pressure ring therebetween which serves as asqueegee as well as to prevent the application of excess pressurebetween the rotary brush element and the item being washed, the

turbine wheel being arranged to ing Water therefrom outside theresilient squeegee-pressure ring which is located between the outeriixed brush element |and the rotary brush element.

A further object of the invention is to provide a power brush having aconcentric fixed brush element and a rotary brush element with laconcentric squeegee element therebetween, the said elements being usableselectively by the operator responsive to variation in manual pressureexerted in applying the power brush to the work being washed.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent by reference to thefollowing detailed description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawing, in which: Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a power brushembodying the invention taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 2. p

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view with the brushesremoved taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view with the brushesremoved taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2 Showing the mounting of thepressure ringP Referring now to the drawing wherein like numerals referto like and corresponding parts throughout the several views, the powerbrush disclosed for the purpose of illustrating the invention comprisesa dome shaped housing 10 having a central depending shaft 11 formedintegral therewith onto which a turbine rotor 12 carrying a rotary brushelement 13 is rotatably mounted. The said housing 10 has a stem 14extending laterally therefrom to accommodate a hollow handle 15 throughwhich water under pressure is supplied to turbine jet nozzles 16 ashereinafter described in detail. The periphery of the dome shapedhousing 10 is provided with a plurality of notched lugs 17 spaced aroundthe lower portion thereof to receive a fixed brush element 18 thereon.`The said fixed brush element 18 is removably secured to the peripheryof the housing 10 by any suitable means such as the bands 180.

The fixed brush element 18 is preferably a hair type brush withsufficient fullness to accomplish an ordinary manual scrubbing operationand, at the same time, the fixed brush element 1S must have suchresilience as to `collapse sufficiently responsive to manual pressureapplying it against the item being washed to permit the rotary brushelement 13 carried by the rotor 12 to exercise its power scrubbingaction on the said item being washed. The rotary brush element 13 issecured to the rotor 12 by such means as studs yand the bottom of thebrush thereof is disposed somewhat above the bottom of the fixed brushelement 18 as best shown in Fig. l. Although the rotary brush element 13is shown in the drawing to be a. hair type brush, it can be replaced bya lambs wool or other type of cleaning element.

Radially disposed between the rotary brush element 13 and the xed brushelement 18 is a rigid annular pressure ring 19 onto which is mounted aresilient rubber squeegeepressure ring 20. The rigid annular pressurering 19 is preferably secured by integral circumferentially spacedhorizontally llanged arcuate brackets 21 in depending relationship fromthe ldome shaped housing 10 at such a height with respect to the rotarybrush element 13 that the said resilient squeegee-pressure ring 20carried thereby will contact and compress against the item being washedprior to the rotary brush element 13 becoming stalled as a result ofpressure application of the power brush to an item being washed orcleaned thereby. The resilient squeegee-pressure ring 20 is preferablyformed of a soft resilient rubber and the slot 200 thereof is deeperthan the depending leg of the `annular pressure ring 19 to provide addedresiliency to the resilient squeegee-pressure ring 20 whereby variousdegrees of pressure may be applied by the operator onto the item beingwashed before the resilient squeegee-pressure ring 20 is brought to bearsolidly thereagainst. Obviously, other types of resilientsqueegeepressure rings 20 may be employed, and, if desired, they may beribbed in any manner known in the art-it being essential that theresilient squeegee-pressure ring 20 be capable of withstanding graduallyincreased resistance t0 compression as the power brush is applied withincreasing pressure to the item being washed.

Within the dome shaped housing 10 at the inner periphery thereof ispressed a combined duct and nozzle ring 22 which is circumferentiallygrooved to provide in cooperation with the inner periphery of thehousing 10 an annular duct 23 which is rectangular in cross section andwhich communicates by means of a passage 24 with the hollow stern 14 andhandle 15. Water under pressure is supplied from the handle 15 throughthe hollow stem 14 and passage 24 to the annular duct 23. The duct andnozzle ring 22 is formed wider at two or more spaced intervals formingarcuate nozzle blocks 220 into which a plurality of more or less conicaljet nozzle apertures 16 are cut. The passage 24 is so disposed as todirect water from the hollow stem 14 counterclockwise around the duct 23as viewed in Fig. 2, and the nozzle apertures 16 are disposed to receivewater passing counterclockwise through the duct 23 substantially withoutturbulence, thus contributing to the efciency of the turbine operation.

The turbinero'tor `12 has a central hub 2S Vwhich is telesco'ped ontothe turbine shaft 11 dependingfrom the dome shaped'housing 10. Ifdesired,'the turbine rotor 12 may be built in two parts secured togetherby studs 26 as indicated in the drawings. Suitable bearing means such assleeve bearings 27 and 28, a thrust washer 29, and a stud 30 threadedinto the bottoniof the turbine shaft 11 are employed to mount theturbine rotor 12 in freely rotatable relationship on the turbine shaft11. A grease bore 31 from the top of the housing 10 communicates with adiagonal bore 32 in the turbine shaft lland supplies lubricant betweenthe sleevebearings 27 and l28 through bores 33 provided inthe sleevebearing 27. A screw 34 is threaded into the'top of the lgrease bore 31to retain the grease therein. The periphery of the turbine rotor 12 hasa pluralityofbuckets 3'5 formed therein which are disposed on a"suitable angle to receive water under pressure from theturbine nozzles1'6 and obtain maximum power therefrom.

lt will be noted that water under'pressuie from the turbine nozzles 1'6is retained in the 'rotor buckets 35 whenopposite the nozzles 1'6 andthe arcuate nozzle blocks 220, and, after the buckets 35 leave thearcuate nozzle blocks 220 `during rotation of the turbine rotor 12,water in the rotor buckets 35 is flung into the areas 36 from whence itis discharged mainly outside the resilient squeegee-pressure'ring 20.`When the power brush isr applied to the surface being washed or cleanedwith relatively light manual pressure, more of the water from the areas36 spills -to the space withinlthe squeegeepressure ring 20. However,when suliicient pressure is employed Ain applying the power brushmanually tothe surface being washed or cleaned to cause 'thesqueegee-.pressure ring 20 to contact or substantially contact thesurface being cleaned, then substantially all of the water from theturbine passes through the space outside the squeegeepressure ring 20between the said squeegee-pressure ring 20 and the periphery oftheh'ousiiig 10. Thus, by applying the power brush to an item to bevwashed or cleaned with considerable `manual pressure,l aV scrubbing withrelatively `less water lat't'he rotary brush element 13 can beaccomplished, and after 'such scrubbing, a substantial rinsing actioncan 'be obtained at' the rotary brushv element by relieving 'some of'the'mariual pressure' employed to apply `the power 'brush to 'the itembeingwashed.

The horizontal anges of 'the'ilanged arcuate brackets 21 supporting theannular pressure ring 19 are disposed below the arcuate nozzle blocksl220 of the duct and nozzle ring 22, and are secured to the said ductand nozzle ring K22 by suitable studs 37. This construction leaves anopen space 38'b`etw'ecn'the annular pressure ring 19 and resilientsqueegee-pressure ring 20 thereon and the depending peripheral lip 100of the dome shaped housing 10, see the iight side of Fig. l and the leftside of Fig. 5.

In using powerbrushes embodying vthe invention, the hollow handlelS 'isconnected to a hose through which water 'under pressure Ais supplied to'the' power brush. Obviously, a detergentmay be mixed with 'the water byany suitable means generally employed for such purpose. The power brushis applied to theautomobile' or other object to be cleaned, at firstlightly with only the fixed brush element 1'8 in contactwith'the objectto be 'cleaned to wet the surface thereof and soften' the dirt orthelike thereon. After'the majority of the dirt, grit or grime has beenwashed off the 'surface to Vbe cleaned, additional manual pressure isemployed to 'bring the rotary brush element 13 into heavier contacttherewith. Then, if the rotary brush element '13 and the fixed brushelement 18 does not clean any particular spot or spots, additionalmanual pressure is applied untilthe resilient squecgee- .pressure ringrubs over the surface'to be cleaned. After all dirt has been removed,washing or rinsing with clear 75,

water is accomplished by applying just enough manual pressure to bringtherotary brush element 13 lightly in contact with the surface beingwashed, which latter phase of the operation tends to polish the surfacebeing washed leaving the finish, if an automobile body, lustrouslybright.

Although but one embodiment of the invention has been shown anddescribed in detail, it is obvious that many changes may be made in thesize, shape, arrangement and detail ofthe various elements thereof asdefined by the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In a power brush of the class described, a dome shaped housingincluding a fixed brush element therearound having a portion thereofydepending tlierebelow, a turbine wheel having buckets formed in theperiphery thereof rotatably mounted in said housing, a rotary brushelement on said turbine wheel having the bottom thereof disposed abovebottoni of said fixed brush element, said housing having therein anannular duct and circumferentially spaced groups of jet nozzlescommunicating with said duct formed to discharge into said turbinebuckets, means'throughV which water under pressure is supplied to saidduct, said 'housing having arcuate discharge areas therein disposedbetween said nozzle groups through 'which water passes from said turbinewheel, and a resilient pressure ring including means for mounting thesame in depending relationship between said fixed and rotary brushelements with the bottom thereof disposed at an elevation below thelower ,periphery of said dome shaped housing and'abovethe bottom of therotary brush element, lsaid pressure ring mounting means being locatedonly at said nozzle groups whereby to permit water vdischarged from saidturbine wheel through said arcuate discharge areas to flow within saidpressure ring to said rotary brush element when the iixed brush elenicntis applied to a surface to be cleaned.

2. 1n a power brush of the class described, a donie shapedv housing andafixed brush element secured around and encompassing the periphery`thereof with a portion of said iixedbrush element depending therebelow,a turbine wheel having buckets .in the `periphery thereof rotatablymounted l'in said housing, a rotary brush element mounted on saidturbine wheel in depending relationship therefrom -with lthe bottomthereof ldisposed above bottom of ksaid fixed brush element, a nozzlering in said housing'forming an annular `duct therewitliin, vmeansthrough which water under pressure is supplied to said annular duct,said nozzie ring having circumerentially spaced :groups .of jet nozzlesformed therein discharging into Vsaid turbine buckets, said nozzle ring'being formed to provide arcuatedischarge areas between said nozzlegroups through which water passes from said turbine, and a resilientpressure ring including means for mounting the saine between said `fixedand'rotary brush elements at an elevation below ythe lower periphery ofsaid dome shaped housing and above the bottom lof the rotary brushelement, said pressure vring `mounting means being located only at `said`nozzle groups whereby to permitwater discharged from said turbinekbuckets to flow within said pressure ring to sai-d rotary brush elementwhen said fixed brush element Vis applied :to a surface being cleaned.

3. In `a power brush of the -class described, a dome shaped housingandra ti-xed brush element secured around and encompassing the peripherythereof with a portion of said -iixed brush element dependingtlierebelow, a turbine wheel having-buckets foi'med iii-the peripherythereof rotatably-mounted in said housing, a rotary brush elementmounted in depending relationship :from said turbine wheel -with the-bottom'thereof disposed above bottom of said xed brush element, thesaid rotary brush element being relatively stiffer than said `fixedvbrush element, a nozzle ring in said'housing forming an annularduct'th'erewithin, said inozzle ring having circumferentially spacedlgroups *ofjet nozzles formed therein discharging into said turbinebuckets, said nozzle ring 'being formed to provide arcuate dischargeareas between said nozzle groups through which water passes from saidturbine, and a resilient pressure ring including means for mounting thesame between said xed and rotary brush elements at an elevation belowthe lower periphery of said dome shaped housing and above the bottom ofthe rotary brush element, said pressure ring mounting means beinglocated only at said nozzle groups whereby to permit water dischargedfrom said turbine buckets to llow within said pressure ring to saidrotary brush element.

4. In a power brush of the class described, a dome shaped housingincluding a compressible fixed brush element therearound having aportion thereof depending therebelow, a combined nozzle and dischargeduct ring Xed in sai-d housing, turbine jets arranged in spaced groupswithin said nozzle and duct ring, a turbine wheel having radiallydisposed buckets in the periphery thereof rotatably mounted in saidhousing with the buckets therein in alignment with said turbine jets,means through which water under pressure is supplied to said turbinejets, the said nozzle and duct ring having arcuate discharge ductstherein disposed between said nozzle groups and through which water fromsaid turbine buckets discharges within sai-d dome shaped housing, arotary brush element relatively less compressible than said fixed brushelement secured on said turbine Wheel for rotation therewith, the bottomof the rotary brush element being disposed above the bottom of the fixedbrush element, and a resilient squeegce and pressure ring disposedradially between said fixed and rotary brush elements including meansfor mounting the same within said dome shaped housing permitting waterdischarging from said arcuate discharge ducts to ilow on both sidesthereof.

5. In a power brush of the class described, a dome shaped housingincluding a compressible fixed brush element therearound having aportion thereof depending therebelow, a combined nozzle and dischargeduct ring xed in said housing, turbine jets arranged in spaced groupsWithin Sai-d nozzle and duct ring, a turbine wheel having radiallydisposed buckets in the periphery thereof rotatably mounted in saidhousing with the buckets therein in alignment with said turbine jets,means through which water under pressure is supplied to said turbinejets, the said nozzle and duct ring having arcuate discharge ductstherein disposed between said nozzle groups through which water fromsaid turbine buckets discharges within said dome shaped housing, arotary brush element relatively less compressible than said Xed brushelement secured on said turbine Wheel for rotation therewith, the bottomof the rotary brush element being disposed above the bottom of the fixedbrush element, and a resilient squeegee and pressure ring disposedradially between said xed and rotary brush elements including means formounting the same within said dome shaped housing permitting waterdischarging from said arcuate discharge ducts to flow on both sidesthereof, the bottom of said Squeegee and pressure ring being disposedabove the bottom of said rotary brush element.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,375,102 Masser Apr. 19, 1921 1,821,394 Moschetto Sept. 1, 19311,872,602 Olsen Aug. 16, 1932 2,000,930 DeNagy May 14, 1935 2,609,555Anderson Sept. 9, 1952

